Egg-crate.



PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

W. 0. ANDERSON.

EGG CRATE.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1902;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

10 MODEL.

gVENTOR 5 m o'TTORNEYS.

PATENTED JAN. 20,1903.

W. 0; ANDERSON.

EGG CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. '1. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I0 MODEL.

mnmm

klVEyToR J BY WITNESSES:

' o4 TTORNE YS.

WILLIAM O. ANDERSON, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FABIAN I-IEDGES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

EGG-C RATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,807, dated January 20, 1903.

Application filed March '7, 1902. Serial No. 97,080 (No model.)

To whom it may concern: of the parts of an egg-crate, as hereinafter Beit known that I, WILLIAM O. ANDERSON, fully described, and pointed outin the claims. of Utica, in the county of Oneida, in the Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a State of New York, have invented new and perspective view of an egg-crate embodying useful Improvementsin Egg-Crates, of which the various features of my invention and 55 the following, taken in connection with the shown in its closed position as used in storaccompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and age or transportation. Fig. 2 is a transverse exact description. sectional view taken on line 2 2, a few of the This invention relates to improvements in eggs being shown as inserted in their holders. [0 eg -crates. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the several trays 60 The object of my invention is to economize and lids, shown in their unfolded or extended in the space necessary for the storage or position. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional transportation of large quantities of eggs. view through one of the trays. Fig. 5 is an Another object is to construct a crate of a enlarged detail view of a portion of one of I5 series of separate trays which are linked to the lengthwise egg-supporting bars. Fig. 6 65 each other in such manner as to be folded is a transverse view of one of the detached one upon the other to form an integral crate wire loops or egg-holders. Fig. 7 is an end or unfolded so as to arrange the trays edge elevation of the several trays and lids showto edge in substantially the same horizontal ing the manner of folding and unfolding the plane for facilitating the packing of the eggs same. 70 in their respective supports, said crate being Similar reference characters indicate corprovided with suitable lids at the top and botresponding parts in all the views. tom, which are also linked to the adjacent As shown in the drawings, this egg-crate trays and are adapted to be similarly folded comprises a series of trays 1, 2, and 3, lower or unfolded when transporting or packing the and upper lids 4 and 5, links 6, 7, 8, and 9, 75 eggs. connecting the trays and lids, and clamping A further object is to provide clamping members 10 and 11 for securing the trays means secured to the lids, whereby the act of and lids in their folded position. The trays clamping the lids in position serves also to 1, 2, and 3, of which there may be any dehold the trays in their operative position. sired number, are identical in construction 80 A still further object is to form the trays in and when folded to their closed position, as such manner that when assembled one upon seen in Fig. 1, are disposed in planes one the other a suitable space is left between the above the other and normally rest upon each trays and lids, whereby free circulation of other, with their sides and ends in substanair is permitted through the crate around the tially vertical alinement, and the lids 4t and 85 eggs inclosed therein. 5 serve as bottom and top walls for the crate A further object is to provide each tray and when in their closed position normally with a series of lengthwise substantially parrest against the lower and upper edges, reallel bars composed of sections, between spectively, of the bottom tray 1 and top tray which sections are inserted a series of wire 3. Each of these trays is usually open at 0 loops for the purpose of yieldingly supportits upper end, and consists of side and end ing the eggs between adjacent bars, the adwalls 10 and 11', a series of substantially jacent faces of the upper sections of the adparallel lengthwise bars 12, and wire loops 13. jacent bars being beveled or. inclined up- Although these trays are preferablyrectanguwardly from their bases for the purpose of lar in form, it is evident that they may be 5 reinforcing the bars and facilitating the reotherwise formed, if desired, the side walls ception and retention of the eggs in their 10 being preferably of slightly less width holders. than the end walls for forming lateral length- To this end the invention consists in the wise openings 14 between the meeting edges combination, construction, and arrangement of the trays when they are assembled or in 10::

their closed position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, for transportation or storage, these lateral openings serving to permit a free circulation of air through the crate and around the inclosed eggs, and it is therefore evident that the end walls 11 are of greater width than the side walls 10', and when the trays are folded to their closed position their edges engage each other and the lower and upper edges of the lower and upper trays are engaged by the lids t and 5.

The bars 14 are preferably arranged lengthwise of the trays, substantially parallel and in separated relation to each other, for formingopenings 15 between their adjacent edges, and are suitably secured at their opposite ends to the end walls 11 in proximity to the lower edges of the tray, the lower faces of said bars being arranged in a plane substantially coincident with the lower edges of the end walls 11. Each of these bars preferably consists of lower and upper sections 16 and 17, the lower section 16 preferably consisting of a substantially flat thin bar having its opposite ends secured to the end walls 11, and the upper bar 17 is preferably triangular in cross-section, with its base resting upon the bar 16 and its apex uppermost for forming upwardly-inclining faces 18, said section 17 being secured to the bar 16 and to the end walls 11 by nails or other suitable fastening members not necessary to herein illustrate or describe. Each of these bars 12 is provided with a series of yielding egg-holders, as 13, which preferably consist of wire loops extending upwardly from the adjacent edges of the bars 16 and having their opposite ends bent laterally and upwardly, the lateral portions being impinged between the sections 16 and 17, and the upwardly-extending portions are inserted into the base of the section 17. 7

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the adjacent edges of the upper sections 17 of the several bars of each tray are inclined upwardly from each other, and the loops at the adjacent edges of the bars 12 are arranged in pairs, each pair serving to receive and support each egg separately from the others. It is also apparent that the triangular-shape sections 17 not only serve to reinforce or strengthen the bars 12, but also enable me to pack or store a larger number of eggs in the same-size tray than would be possible if the bars were of the same size as the lower section 16, the adjacent beveled edges also serving to additionally separate the eggs, which when inserted in position usually extend into the openings 15, as seen in Fig. 2.

The links 6, 7, 8, and 9 are preferably arranged and properly secured at both ends of the crate, the links 6 serving to connect the lower lid 1 with the tray 1, the links 7 connecting the trays 1 and 2, the links 8 connecting the trays 2 and 3, and the links 9 connecting the tray 3 with the upper lid 5, these links being pivotally connected to the trays and lids in such manner as to permit the trays and lids to be unfolded or extended to substantially the same horizontal plane, as seen in Fig. 3. When the trays and lids are thus unfolded, it is apparent that the eggs may be readily inserted or packed in between the loops 13 and that when the trays are entirely filled they may be readily folded one upon the other to the position seen in Fig. 1 and as previously described.

I preferably employ two clamping members 10, one at each end of the crate, each of which preferably consists of a substantially U- shaped bar pivotally mounted upon the upper face of the upper lid and having its opposite arms adapted to engage or interlock with the clamping members 11, these latter members usually consisting of screws or suitable lugs secured to the side edges of the lower lid 4 when the crate is in its closed or folded position.

In order to hold the clamping members 10 in their inoperative position,I usually pro vide the upper lid with suitable sockets 20, in which the angular ends of said clamping members are inserted when the crate is being filled or when it is desired to unfold the same.

In the operation of my invention the crate is first unfolded to the position seen in Fig. 3 and is laid upon the flooror upon other suitable support, with the open sides of each tray uppermost. The eggs are then inserted in the holders 13, and if it is desired to test the eggs the several trays in their extended position, with the eggs therein, may be placed upon suitable supports, so that the lower faces are exposed, and a light may be then passed under each row of the eggs in the usual manner for testing eggs without removing the same from their trays. After the eggs have been thus tested the several trays are folded one upon the other and the clamps 10 are engaged with the clamping members 11, thereby locking the trays and lids firmly to each other and forming a substantially integral crate. The upper lid 5 is preferably extended beyond the end-walls 11 and is formed with cleats 21, which serve as suitable handles whereby the crate may be readily conveyed from one place to another.

The operation of my invention will now be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An egg-crate comprising a plurality of trays open at its top and bottom and each connected to swing one upon the other so as to lie in planes one above the other and also in the same horizontal plane, each tray having a series of upwardly-projecting yielding eggsupports.

2. An egg-crate comprising a plurality of trays open at the top and bottom and connected to swing one upon the other so as to lie in planes one above the other and also in the same horizontal plane, means for clamping the trays in the former position, and egg-supports for each tray open at both ends to expose the egg from the top and bottom of the tray.

3. An egg-crate comprising a plurality of egg-supporting trays and lids successively connected to each other to swing to planes one above the other, and also to liev in the same horizontal plane, said trays having substantially parallel openings therethrough and egg-holders projecting upwardly from opposite sides of the opening.

4. An egg-crate comprising separate trays, a link connecting the trays in such manner that one tray will swing upon the other from a position above the other tray to a position at one side of said other tray without inverting the swinging tray, and yielding egg-supports for each tray.

5. An egg-crate composed of a series of separate trays, having side and end walls forming the side a nd end walls of the crate, links pivotally connecting adjacent trays, separated bars secured to the end walls and separate egg-supports projecting upwardly from each bar.

6. An egg-crate composed of separate trays of uniform size, adjacent trays being linked to each other to swing to a position directly over each other and to a position side by side, lids linked to the end trays, and means for clamping the trays and lids in their closed position.

7. An egg-crate composed ofseparate trays, links connecting the trays, lids for the end trays, links connecting the end trays and lids, a clamp to lock the lids and trays in their closed positions, and yielding eg -supports in each tray.

8. An egg-crate comprising separate trays linked to each other to swing above and at the side of each other, each tray having side and end inclosing walls to form a frame open top and having a series of openings in its bottom, the side walls of one tray resting on the side walls of the adjacent lower tray and a series of wire loops arranged in pairs and projecting upwardly from the sides of the opening and of less height than the inclosing walls.

9. In an egg-crate, separated bars composed of sections and wire loops projecting upwardly from adjacent edges of the bars and having their opposite ends inserted between the sections of their respective bars and driven into one of the sections.

10. In an eg -crate, separated bars composed of sections and wire loops projecting upwardly from adjacent edges of the bars and having their opposite ends bent laterally between the sections, the extremities of said loops being bent at an angle with the lateral extension and inserted in the upper of the sections.

11. An egg-crate comprising separate trays linked to each other to swing in the same vertical and horizontal planes to close and open the crate, portions of the adjacent edges of the trays projecting beyond other portions to form openings between the meeting edges of the trays to permit the circulation of air through the crate above and beneath the eggs and a series of egg-holders carried by each tray between the planes of its upper and lower edges.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of February, 1902.

WILLIAM O. ANDERSON.

WVitnesse s:

W. T. DUNMORE, O. O. PUTNAM. 

